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PMAC

It's probably hard to feel the sting of state gasoline prices, that are 70 cents per gallon above US prices, when you are in an ivory tower. Perhaps that's why some of the academics on California Energy Commission's Petroleum Market Advisory Committee (PMAC) are taking a slow train to recommendations about how to fix the Golden State gouge that's been causing pain at the gas pump for the last year.

As the sun rises in the Earth Day sky toward high noon, the California Energy Commission in Sacramento will be ground zero for the debate on what to do about the highest gasoline prices in the nation, which California has endured all year due to record profits by California oil refiners.

Consumer Watchdog will present new evidence at the upcoming Petroleum Market Advisory Committee meeting to show that refiners have used market power to raise gas prices. The committee will be discussing recommendations for the legislature on how to fix the California petroleum industry.

Details on that, the DTSC's Independent Panel Review, which will be discussing the scandal surrounding the now-shuttered Exide battery recycler, and the FPPC's move to close a loophole that allows lobbyists to avoid registering, below.

Is the tide turning against the oil industry when it comes to gas price manipulation? We might find out this week. Also, California's woeful support of mental health access will be aired, and possible solutions. Those and other meetings will be held, including topics such as closing the English learner gap, the rural digital divide and why do pipeline accidents persist?

Mergers, civic engagement and campaign finance are on the schedule for this week. In addition, the Independent Review Panel for the Department of Toxic Substances Control will be having two meetings on reform. Wednesday's meeting may be especially contentious, considering environmental groups will be laying out internal problems with the DTSC that need to be fixed.